Legionella E-news -- 4 March 2009

Legionella E-news, 4 March 2009
HC Info
Matthew R. Freije, Editor

**IN THIS ISSUE**
1. Four LD Cases at Atlanta’s Largest Hospital
2. Fans at World Handball Championships contract LD
3. Legionnaires' Cases Among Dubai Hotel Guests
4. CDC Legionella Testing Proficiency Program to Begin in April
5. Legionella Assessment Course in May Includes Hands-on Training

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1. FOUR LD CASES AT ATLANTA’S LARGEST HOSPITAL
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A State of Georgia epidemiologist said that four patients diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in January appear to have contracted the disease during their stay at Atlanta’s largest hospital. The hospital reported that all four patients were responding well to antibiotics. Legionella was found in water samples collected from rooms on the hospital floors where the four patients had stayed. The hospital closed those floors until water samples tested negative for Legionella following chlorination procedures.

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2. FANS AT WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTRACT LD
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Four Norwegians, one Danish, one Swede, one Croat, and about twelve Serbians who attended the World Handball Championships in Croatia contracted Legionnaires' disease last month. Preliminary epidemiologic evidence indicated that the source of the illness was probably in the sports halls rather than in the hotels where the fans were staying. None of the players became ill with the disease.

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3. LEGIONNAIRES' CASES AMONG DUBAI HOTEL GUESTS
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A 69-year-old British broadcaster died on 29 January after contracting Legionnaires' disease. The man stayed at a 5-star hotel in Dubai in mid-January and returned to the UK on 20 January. Two other guests of the same hotel contracted the disease and recovered.

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4. CDC LEGIONELLA TESTING PROFICIENCY PROGRAM TO BEGIN IN APRIL
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The CDC's new Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) Program is to get underway next month. The program is for any laboratory located in the United States or its territories -- public health and university labs as well as commercial labs -- that processes environmental samples for culture of Legionella.

Laboratories will biannually receive six samples that may contain Legionella and other waterborne microorganisms. Labs that successfully isolate Legionella from two consecutive test sample panels will receive a Certificate of Proficiency and be listed on CDC's website as ELITE Members. ELITE members may be delisted if they fail two or more consecutive test panels.

ELITE Program administrators will work with labs that receive failing scores to improve their techniques.

The program is free.

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/elite-intro.htm.

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5. LEGIONELLA ASSESSMENT COURSE IN MAY INCLUDES HANDS-ON TRAINING
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HC Info’s new three-day training course, “Performing High Quality Legionella Assessments,” will be held May 19-21 at the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort in Carlsbad, Calif.

The course is for engineers, water treatment specialists, and industrial hygienists that want to provide Legionella assessment services for hospitals, hotels, or industrial facilities; and for public environmental health officials that investigate Legionnaires' disease.

The first two days will be in the ocean-view classroom, covering background facts, government and industry guidelines, risk reduction strategies, preventive measures for common sources of Legionella contamination, disinfection of plumbing systems, and water sampling. Steps in conducting Legionella assessments will be given in detail, including optimum scope of work, information to gather from the building operator, systems and devices to inspect, what to look for in each system, documentation, equipment needed, estimating the time required to conduct assessments, and pricing. Television investigative news stories on Legionnaires' disease and a documentary on its discovery will also be shown.

The third day will be hands-on training. Students will visit a hospital facility and actually see the steps taken in inspecting plumbing systems and cooling towers and collecting water samples.

Matt Freije, author of Legionellae Control in Health Care Facilities: A Guide for Minimizing Risk, will be the primary instructor.

The course is noncommercial--no products or services will be promoted.

Because of the site visit, the class size will be limited to approximately 15 students.

The tuition of $1195 includes a course manual, copy of Freije’s book, certificate, breakfast and lunch on the first two days, and transportation for the hospital site visit. To register or get more information, visit www.hcinfo.com.

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HC Info provides information and consulting services to protect health and life by reducing the risk of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens. We offer facility assessments, waterborne pathogen management plans, disinfection and other remedial recommendations for plumbing systems, litigation support, seminars, publications, research, and training.